Broussonetia plant named ‘Jinfeng’

ABSTRACT

‘Jinfeng’ is a distinctive variety of Broussonetia Plant, which is characterized by its color of leaves.

Genus and species: Broussonetia L'Hér. ex Vent.

Variety denomination: ‘Jinfeng’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofBroussonetia plant, which is given the varietal denomination of‘Jinfeng’.

In April 2008, a mutated Broussonetia naturally occurring whole plantwas found among Broussonetia seedlings in a nursery at Chuxu Village,Suiping County, Henan Province, China. Leaves of the mutatedBroussonetia plant were golden in spring, yellow in summer and golden inautumn. However, leaves of other known seedlings in the same nurserywere green. Since the main breeding material of this variety isbranches, buds or rhizomes, branches of mutated were then grafted inspring and the mutated plant was reproduced by budding with xylem.

In April 2009, the mutated Broussonetia plant was grafted in the samenursery, and characteristics thereof were kept stable. In the nursery,except for some species of maple, there were no other varieties. Thenursery has excellent land, smooth drainage, and no pollution sourcesaround. The nursery is closed with only one entrance. Average summermaximum temperature at the nursery is 38 degrees Celsius, and averagewinter minimum temperature is −6 degrees Celsius. Annual averagerainfall is 800 mm.

From 2010-2014, different generations were used for reproducing. Nofurther mutation was observed. The distinct variety was healthy, andcharacteristics thereof were kept stable.

The new and distinct variety of Broussonetia plant is not commerciallyavailable.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY

‘Jinfeng’ is a distinctive variety of Broussonetia plant with deciduousleaves, whose crown is extended. Bark of ‘Jinfeng’ is smooth, light grayor grayish brown, and without cracking. The whole plant containsmilk-like sap. Young branches are densely covered with fine hairs.Single-leaves, which grow alternately and sometimes almost oppositely,are thick papery. The leaves are oval-shaped or wide oval-shaped withacute apices. Bases of the leaves are rounded, subcordate or skewed. Theleaves have serrated margins, and have no crack or 3-5 cracks. Uppersurfaces of the leaves are rough and covered with hard hairs. Lowersurfaces of the leaves are covered with soft hairs. There are 7-8 pairsof lateral veins. In spring, the leaves are golden (RHS YELLOW 6C-A orYELLOW 7C-A) and top leaves are greyed-orange (RHS GREYED-ORANGE163B-A). In summer, the leaves are yellow-green (RHS YELLOW-GREEN 150B-Aor YELLOW-GREEN 144C-A). In autumn, the leaves turn back to golden andbright (RHS YELLOW 12D-A or YELLOW 13C-A). Petioles long 3-5 cm, and aredensely covered with thick hairs. Stipules are ovate or oblong, andcaduceus. Flowers are male with Catkin inflorescence, flowering fromApril to May.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new and distinct variety of ‘Jinfeng’. The descriptions disclosedherein are based upon observations of the plant growth.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of the new invention, ‘Jinfeng’, showingleaves of a 3-year plant on May 9, 2011.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of the new invention, ‘Jinfeng’, showingleaves of a 2-year plant on Sep. 17, 2011.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of the new invention, ‘Jinfeng’, showingleaves of a 2-year plant on Oct. 13, 2011.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph of the new invention, ‘Jinfeng’, showingupward extending stem of a 4-year plant on Apr. 21, 2013.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph of the new invention, ‘Jinfeng’, showing a1-year plant in the field on May 3, 2012.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph of the invention, ‘Jinfeng’, showing theappearance of flowers without seeds of a 5-year plant on Apr. 21, 2014.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

‘Jinfeng’ is a distinctive variety of Broussonetia plant with deciduousleaves, whose crown is extended. Bark of ‘Jinfeng’ is smooth, light grayor grayish brown, and without cracking. The whole plant containsmilk-like sap. Young branches are densely covered with fine hairs.Single-leaves, which grow alternately and sometimes almost oppositely,are thick papery. The leaves are oval-shaped or wide oval-shaped withacute apices. Bases of the leaves are rounded, subcordate or skewed. Theleaves have serrated margins, and have no crack or 3-5 cracks. Uppersurfaces of the leaves are rough and covered with hard hairs. Lowersurfaces of the leaves are covered with soft hairs. There are 7-8 pairsof lateral veins. In spring, the leaves are golden (RHS YELLOW 6C-A orYELLOW 7C-A) and top leaves are greyed-orange (RHS GREYED-ORANGE163B-A). In summer, the leaves are yellow-green (RHS YELLOW-GREEN 150B-Aor YELLOW-GREEN 144C-A). In autumn, the leaves turn back to golden andbright (RHS YELLOW 12D-A or YELLOW 13C-A). Petioles long 3-5 cm, and aredensely covered with thick hairs. Stipules are ovate or oblong, andcaduceus. Flowers are male with Catkin inflorescence, flowering fromApril to May.

‘Jinfeng’ is a distinctive variety of Broussonetia plant, which is ableto grow in north, center, southwest, and northwest of China, mainly inthe Yellow River area, the Yangtze River area and the Pearl River Basinarea.

‘Jinfeng’ is a strong phototropism tree species, whose adaptability isparticularly strong. The plant has strong resistance to dry-cold and dryand damp-hot climates, and is able to grow in acidic soil, neutral soiland limestone mountain area due to resistance to drought and barren. Theplant grows well at both waterside and wetlands. Roots of the plant areshallow and lateral, which are widely distributed and rapidly grow.‘Jinfeng’ has strong abilities in budding and tillering, with strongresistance to pruning and pollution.

Reproducing methods of ‘Jinfeng’ are mainly graft and cottage. Forgrafting, Broussonetia plant is used as a rootstock. In spring, cleft orbudding with xylem should be adapted for propagating. In summer, buddingis used for propagating. For cottage, young summer branches are mainlyused.

Specifically, branch-graft in spring has a highest survival rate. Everyyear, in March or before ‘Jinfeng’ is budded, branches born that yearare selected. The branches are cut into about 5 cm long, and bottoms arechamfered, which contains 2-3 buds. Next, the rootstock (with aroughness of between 0.7-1) is cut off flatly, and then vertically cutnear one side. The graft material is aligned with one side of therootstock layer, clamped, and wrapped with a graft plastic film, whereinthe buds are left outside. After new leaves are grown, green branches ofcommon species are removed from the rootstocks, so as to the branches of‘Jinfeng’ grow rapidly. After the plant grows to 2 meters high, it isplanted at a row spacing of 3 meters * 4 meters. After 3-4 years, trunksof ‘Jinfeng’ can grow to a diameter of 8 cm and can be used in greeningof parks or scenic spots.

‘Jinfeng’ can be cultivated and rapidly grows in both spring and autumn.During growth, trimming is needed. The plant is not suitable for growingat low areas which are likely to suffer water logging.

‘Jinfeng’ can be cultivated in most parts of China, which prefers strongsunlight and is resistant to drought. ‘Jinfeng’ is not resistant towater and humidity. The roots are shallow but strong in germination,which is resistant to pruning, and highly adaptable to different type ofsoil.

‘Jinfeng’ rarely suffers from pests and diseases. However, in someparticular regions having trunk-attacking pests such as longhornedbeetles and jewel beetles, preventing is needed.

TABLE 1 comparison between ‘Jinfeng’ and similar species. similarspecies features of similar species features of ‘Jinfeng' 1 paperdioecism male mulberry green young leaves yellow green mature leavesyellow-green in summer, golden in autumn 2 ‘Jinyang’ female male smoothupper surface of leaf rough no hair or nearly no hair on densely coverby hairs upper surface of leaf

These features and other characteristics of the plant are apparent fromthe figures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Broussonetia Plantnamed ‘Jinfeng’, substantially as described and illustrated.